Loropetalum chinense plant named &#39;shang-white&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Loropetalum chinense  plant named ‘Shang-white’ characterized by its dense, globose growth habit, dark green foliage color, and abundance of white flowers is disclosed.

GENUS SPECIES

Loropetalum chinense

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Shang-white’

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the genus Loropetalum and a member of the Hamamelidaceae family. This new Loropetalum variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘Shang-white’, was discovered by Robert Edward Lee in April, 1998. ‘Shang-white’ is characterized by its dense, globose growth habit, dark green foliage color, and abundance of white flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Shang-white’ was found as an openly pollinated seedling in a group of unnamed, unpatented Loropetalum chinense plants being grown in Independence, La. The value of this new cultivar lies in its dense, globose growth habit, dark green foliage color, and abundance of white flowers. ‘Shang-white’ has retained many of the outstanding attributes of its parent variety, in particular its tolerance of heat and disease, which makes it adaptable to culture in most of the Sunbelt States. As with the parent species, the plant of this invention may be advantageously employed as a specimen appointment, in either formal or informal groupings, and is quite attractive in mass plantings. ‘Shang-white’ serves well in foundation plantings and is adaptable for culture as a potted plant. ‘Shang-white’ is responsive to pruning and training and may be employed in forming dense, attractive hedges, and maintained without an excessive amount of care. This plant is easy to care for and maintain in size due to its short internodes, heavy branching, and dense canopy. Its natural propensity to remain small to maturity makes it valuable for landscape uses in smaller home gardens which require plants that do not outgrow their intended mature dimensions.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings has been under Mr. Lee's direction and control in Independence, La. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. The plant cannot be reproduced true from seed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Independence, La.

-   1. Dense and globose in nature. -   2. The upper surface of the mature leaf is a lustrous dark green     color. -   3. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture     conditions. -   4. Hardy to Zone 7. -   5. Tolerates full sun to part shade. -   6. Heat tolerant. -   7. Easily propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring     through the summer. -   8. Requires little pruning but is tolerant if pruning is needed. -   9. Relatively pest resistant. -   10. Good specimen plant. -   11. Good foundation plant. -   12. Makes a very good, dense hedge. -   13. Very desirable in planters. -   14. The flowers are white and profuse.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new Loropetalum chinense cultivar is illustrated by the accompanying photographic prints in which:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a close-up showing the flower, buds, foliage and stem color, as well as flower size and form of the new Loropetalum chinese cultivar of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the dense and globose growth habit of a three gallon plant of the new Loropetalum chinese cultivar of the present invention.

The colors shown are as true as is reasonably possible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may appear different than actual colors due to light reflectance. The colors of the various plant parts are defined with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. Description of colors in ordinary terms are presented where appropriate for clarity in meaning.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety of Loropetalum based on observations made of two year old plants grown in three gallon containers in commercial production practices, in greenhouses, and in established landscape plantings in Independence, La. and including a comparison with Loropetalum chinense (unpatented) and Loropetalum chinense ‘NCI002’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,977.

-   Distinctive characteristics:

TABLE 1 Loropetalum c. Charac- Loropetalum c. Loropetalum ‘NCI002’ Plant teristic ‘Shang-white’ chinense Pat. No. 18,977 Height 3-4′ (0.9-1.2 m) 10-12′ (3.0-3.7 m) 18″ (44.7 cm) (Mature) Width 3-4′ (0.9-1.2 m) 8-9′ (2.4-2.7 m) 33″ (83.8 cm) (Mature) Leaf 1 1/16-1 1/2″ 1-2 1/2″ 15/16″ (2.4 cm) Length (2.66-3.8 cm) (2.5-6.3 cm) Leaf 3/4-1 1/8″ 3/4-1 1/4″ 9/16″ (1.4 cm) Width (1.9-2.9 cm) (1.9-3.1 cm) Growth Dense, Upright, Dense, Habit Globose Spreading Broad-rounded Foliage Yellow-Green Yellow-Green Greyed-Orange Color G. 144A G. 146C G. 176B turning to (Imature) Yellow-Green G. 146B Flower Color White G. 155A White G. 155A White G. 155C Leaf Shape Ovate-rounded Ovate-rounded Ovate

The female, or seed parent, of ‘Shang-white’ is Loropetalum chinense (unpatented) which is a native of China. Loropetalum chinense was first introduced to Europe in the 1880's and is believed to have been cultivated in North America since the early 1930's.

Loropetalum chinense and Loropetalum chinense ‘NCI002’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,997 are well known in the industry and are comparable to ‘Shang-white’ in that all have green foliage color and white blooms. However, there are many differences. The growth habit of ‘Shang-white’ is dense and globose to 4′ (1.2 m) tall compared to the parent variety which is a much taller grower with an upright spreading habit. The cultivar ‘NCI002’ has a shorter, more broad growth habit than ‘Shang-white’. In addition, the new growth of ‘NCI002’ has a greyed-orange tint which is not characteristic of ‘Shang-white’.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Loropetalum chinense ‘Shang-white’.         -   Parentage.—Openly pollinated seedling of Loropetalum             chinense.         -   Commercial.—Broadleaf evergreen.         -   Form.—Dense and globose.         -   Height.—3-4′ (0.9-1.2 m).         -   Width.—3-4′ (0.9-1.2 m).         -   Growth rate.—Fast under normal fertilization and moisture             conditions. Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late spring and             through the summer produce rooted cuttings in four to five             months in Independence, La. Root development is vigorous and             finely branched. In a period of four years from a rooted             cutting, the plant reaches a height of 2 feet (61 cm) and a             spread of 2 feet (61 cm) under normal growing conditions in             Independence, La. The plant normally grows at the rate of             about 8 inches (20 cm) or more per year and reaches a height             of 4 feet (1.2 m) and a spread of 4 feet (1.2 m) at maturity             while maintaining a dense habit due to the abundant branch             development.         -   Foliage.—Alternate, simple, evergreen, ovate-rounded,             sparsely stellate-pubescent, coriaceous, almost flat, and             varying in size from 1/16″ (2.7 cm) to 1½″ (3.8 cm) long and             ¾″ (1.9 cm) to 1⅛″ (2.9 cm) wide. The petioles are ⅛″             (0.3 cm) to 3/16″ (0.5 cm) long, 1/32″ (0.08 cm) in             diameter, heavily stellate-pubescent and Yellow-Green Group             146B. The venation pattern is pinnate. The base of the leaf             is oblique, the margin entire, and the apex acute. The upper             surface of the immature leaf is Yellow-Green Group 144A and             the underside is Yellow-Green Group 146D. Immature midribs             and veins are depressed on the upper side (Yellow-Green             Group 144B) and prominent on the underside (Yellow-Green             Group 146D). These immature leaf colors last three to four             weeks in Independence, La. The upper surface of the mature             leaf is Green Group 139A. Mature midribs and veins are             depressed on the upper side (Green Group 139A) and prominent             on the under side (Yellow-Green Group 146D). These mature             leaf colors are persistent throughout the winter. The paired             foliaceous stipules are ⅛″ (0.3 cm) to 3/16″ (0.5 cm) long             and 1/32″ (0.08 cm) to 1/16″ (0.16 cm) wide. The upper             surface and under surface are Yellow-Green Group 144A. The             stipules are caducous. In 2008, the date of initial spring             growth was March 12, in Independence, La. After the initial             spring flush there was almost continuous slow growth until             fall, ending October 30, also in Independence, La. When             grown in full sun, the internode length of this plant is ¼″             (0.6 cm) to ½″ (1.3 cm). When grown in light shade the             internode length is ⅜″ (0.9 cm) to ¾″ (1.9 cm). As would be             expected, a plant grown in the shade results in a taller,             less dense plant with larger leaves.         -   Stems.—The young stems are Greyed-Purple Group 183C and             heavily stellate-pubescent. As the stems mature they become             Yellow-Green Group 146D and by the second growing season             they become Brown Group 200C. The pith is solid and uniform.             Young and older stems are densely branched.         -   Flowers.—Perfect, White Group 155A (upper surface and under             surface), glabrous, four strap-shaped petals. The flowers             form a loose funnel, are borne on current season's growth,             and are non-fragrant; they last on the plant in the garden             five to seven days. Tight buds at 3/16″ (0.5 cm) are             orbicular, Green-Yellow Group 1C and pubescent. Six to eight             flowers form globose heads on branchlet terminals and             occasionally one to two flowers in the leaf axils. Flowering             occurs from early March to late March with light repeat             blooming throughout the growing season. These racemes are             1¼″ (3.1 cm) to 1⅝″ (4.1 cm) in diameter by ⅝″ (1.6 cm) to             1″ (2.5 cm) in depth and abundantly cover the plant. The             flowers are attached in a circular pattern to short             peduncles which are pubescent, 1/16″ (0.2 cm) long, 1/32″             (0.08 cm) in diameter and Yellow-Green Group 146D. The four             petals which arise from the calyx tube at the sepal base are             linear, crinkled, ⅝″ (1.6 cm) to 1″ (2.5 cm) long, 1/16″             (0.2 cm) to ⅛″ (0.3 cm) wide, with retuse apexes and entire             margins. There are four stamens 1/32″ (0.08 cm) long,             Green-Yellow Group 1D, with anthers also Green-Yellow Group             1D. Pollen matures to Yellow-Green Group 11C and is produced             in very small amounts. The two pistils are 1/32″ (0.08 cm)             long and Green-Yellow Group 1D. The ovary is inferior and             two-celled. Each flower has four sepals that have entire             revolute margins which are 1/16″ (0.2 cm) long, 1/16″             (0.2 cm) wide, ovate, and fused into a calyx. The calyx is             3/16″ (0.5 cm) in diameter, 3/16″ (0.5 cm) in depth,             pubescent and Yellow-Green Group 145C outer surface and             Yellow-Green Group 145B inner surface.         -   Fruit.—Woody, scabrous, ovoid, 3/16″ (0.5 cm) to 5/16″             (0.8 cm) long, ⅛″ (0.3 cm) to ¼″ (0.6 cm) in diameter,             two-celled capsule, one seed per cell. Mature plants produce             100 to 125 fruits which are Yellow-Green Group 146B. Seeds             are ⅛″ (0.3 cm) to 3/16″ (0.5 cm) long, 1/16″ (0.2 cm) to ⅛″             (0.3 cm) in diameter, Brown Group 200C, and mature in the             fall.         -   Culture.—Grows well in a wide range of conditions and             tolerates sun to part shade. Prefers a moist, well-drained             soil that is rich in organic matter. Responds well to             mulching and medium applications of fertilizer; prefers pH 6             to 7. Very little pruning is needed. Adaptable to containers             and above ground planters. Makes a good foundation plant or             informal hedge with excellent foliage and flower contrast.             Ideal for coastal regions and warmer parts of the Piedmont.             Cold hardiness and drought resistance are comparable to the             parent variety. Propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in             late spring through the summer.         -   Disease and insect resistance.—Resistance to disease and             insects common to plants of Loropetalum has not been             observed. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not             intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the             scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were             chosen and described in order to explain the present             invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the             invention. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Loropetalum chinense plant named ‘Shang-white’ as illustrated and described herein. 